Little Friend
Off Color Brewing

 

Appearance: Pours a hazy orange color with a modest head; a few shards of lace

Smell: Shortbread and orange, herbal phenols

Taste: On the tip of the tongue there is a shortbread sweetness that winds up underpinning; through the middle, an orange tone emerges with an herbal aspect; the finish is dry but the citrus lingers

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A table beer with a few interesting elements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is a really great little beer, i mean, i wish we had more flavorful options like this at this nice low abv, i love drinking all day, and beers like this are great for an early start and prolonging the day, there just arent enough of these out these. this is really full flavored with a nice mild belgian yeast strain, a dry bready base, and a very distinct orange profile, like fresh mandarins or tangerines, almost all in the finish, but its bright in the nose too and really makes this beer what it is for me, sort of giving it a classic belgian wit complexion at the end, just a different yeast vibe, i dont think there is actual citrus in here, but it sure seems like there is! smooth going down too, some body, not watery at all for how light the alcohol is, and with a cool vegetal hop profile as well, good carbonation, and a lot of balance, a surprisingly significant grain contribution too for such a light beer. this is wonderful in the morning, clean and easy drinking, subs in well for orange juice. not too hoppy or too belgian, a well made and well proportioned beer. nice on a hangover too!

 

 

Being a Big Fan of Off Color, I was looking forward to Little Friend being more.... but it is still good in my book.
This is my 28th beer from Off Color (elevating them to third place behind the lodestone, Anchor Brewing.)
The 2016 release had only one review, so it is hard to know how the recipe may have been improved.
This 2018 release is 3.8% ABV, 15 IBU and a gravity of 10P.

As such, Little Friend still Looks like a summer lunch table beer... a bit hazy with a slight orange tinge. And it Smells mild... but here I was hopping to get the stimulating yeast similar to, say, their Apex saison... but none of that prevalent fruit or spicing here. Little Friend Tastes a bit better and has three malts in the bill, but I also detect some wheat... although it is not listed on the label. Actually, I'd like more wheat to soften the bubbles on my tongue.

Improvements besides a lively yeast and wheat ? Probably change the label. Off Color's mascot, the mouse, is cute and shows their good humor... but let's not talk about rat poison on the label. It might invite inquiry from a Trumped-up FDA.

Having bought a 4 pack, I certainly will revisit this review. But, it may be as late as a summer lunch without distinction; just to see if Little Friend can improve food. Or will it be average and just impart a gentle buzz to clean the palate? Stay tuned.

5/18/18, finished the 4 pack and have to say that this is a good table beer; but that it doesn't make food better, which is the test of a really good Belgian. Regardless... when Little Friend is released again, I hope to be among its buyers.

 

 

 

 

 

10/11/16 draft; 3.5% ABV

 

Thanks Thomas & Jenny for this one!
Hazy orange, spotty lace, broken swirly surface skim.
Cereal aroma, faint Belgian yeast.
Taste is grainy and lightly malty with a hint of wheat.
Light bodied and crisp with a smooth wheaty feel.
Simple but quenching, a solid summer table beer.
Simple by design, and the Tony Montana label is awesome btw.